San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-03-07

these degenerate days, Cast thy bread
upon the waters and il shall find thee
vastly improved i'm quality, tOo-'be-
fore many days."
"Yer-yer no anger'd wi me, eh?n
questioned Greta timidly, breaking the
pause which had ensued, and stretch
ing her small hand forth until IL resteL
beseechingly on the young mans knee.
"Say yer no fash'd wi mel"
Angry with you for having saved
my life, Greta? Nay, hardly" answered
Dick, as he laid his own warm hand up
ON the girls, and clasped that small
half-frozen member tightly. "Why,
but for you, little one, it is more than
probable | should be sleeping now some
feet deep beneath coverlet of frozen
snow, not far from the Burnham cross
roads, in which case yOu-IIolloa!"
and with this last ejaculation Dick
started hastily to his feet, for the door
was suddenly thrown open, and from
the lighted hall beyond, Sir Jasper's
tall spare figure loOmed darkly, advanc-
ing into the shadow of the dim fire-lit
library.
"Why, boy, in darkness still? Ring
for Charles and lights; you have surely
been asleep! And Then he paused,
singular little figure still crouching on
the hearth. ''Dick-who-what have
you therep"
''Greta, Sir Jasper-Greta herself
none otherl The Barnes Common
Ghost, the Cross Roads Wrath, the
child whose eXertions twice within
four and-twenty hours saved life
which will strive to grow nobler in or
der to prove itself not altogether I'M
worthy of such devotion as this little
one has shown. Look at her, Sir JAS
per, and then listen to detailed and
circumstantial account of most as
founded facts!"
But the baronet had suddenly covered
his face with both his hands and sink
ing heavily into the nearest chair, sob
bed alOud-proud strong man though
he was-like broken-hearted child.
The shock had been too sudden, and
alas! too terrible. CHANGING towards
the hearthrug his eye lighted upon a
huddled, ragged, nondescript heap, and
this-this he was briefly told was none
other than Greta's child, in whose veins
ran some drops of that blue Norman
blood which his ancestors throughout
long centuries had kept pure and unde-
filed, his own flesh and blood, fair
haired Saxon Marguerite's innocent
hapless grandchild.
All, 1t was charlottesville to con-
template! Small wonder the baronet
sought to shut out from his sight this
unconscious blamelesS Nemesis, who
had thus suddenly arisen, as it were, to
confront him in mortal guise, the living
presentment of the half-forgOtten fol-
lies of his youth, the sins of his man.
"a ri 10 tu
of his declining years.
For some long moments Sir Jasper
vainly strOve to master his emotion;
the bitter fearless sobs seemed rs
though they would rend his iron frame;
the spectacle was agOnizing. Dick
never recalled it without a shudder
throughout the long lifetime yet
ahead.
Yet with ready sympathy he cOmpre-
hended vaguely something of the tu-
multi just then raging within the 9th
er's soul; and the young man crept
nearer-nearer-thro the deepening
twilight shadows, until at length he
ventured to place his hand lightly upon
the old mans forehead.
Regrets for the past are unavailing
now, sir" he murmured, in low voice
infinitely tender; ''soOner rejoice that
time for atOnement has been merciful-
ly granted you. Peace upon earth,
goodwill towards menl' he added in
whisper. "Surely an suspicious mo-
ment this to close for ever the book of
the past, and to begin-strOng in hope
and brave resOlve-a more satisfactory
volumel"
Just at that moment the distant
chime of the village bells, summOning
happy rustics to even-sOng, was dis
tinctly audible throughout the silence
of the dark and gloomy room. 1t
seemed as though silyery chorus from
afar was raised to echo Dicks hopeful
words:
Peace on earth, goodwill towards
men! towards men, towards m-enl
men, m-enl"